Freight Forwarders & Customs Brokers
Business funding for freight forwarders — cover the cost before the client pays
You pay the carrier, the customs duties, and the port fees to keep a shipment moving — long before your client's invoice is due. Freight forwarder business loans from Smart Business Funding close that gap in hours, not weeks.
The seasonal swing
Peak season fills the truck. It also drains the cash.
Volume surges bring a matching surge in upfront carrier and customs disbursements — right before the slower months when reserves matter most. Working capital for freight forwarders is built to smooth that curve.
Why the cash flow gap exists
You front the cost. The client pays 30-60 days later.
Freight forwarding and customs brokerage are service businesses with a financing problem baked into the model — you pay third parties to keep freight moving, then wait to be reimbursed.
The disbursement-to-invoice gap
Carrier, duty, and port payments go out immediately. Client payment on your invoice often lands 30 to 60 days later — and the gap widens as your client volume grows.
Seasonal freight swings
Peak shipping season brings a surge in volume and a matching surge in upfront disbursements. The slower months that follow can leave less cash on hand right when reserves matter.
Client concentration risk
Handling large-volume shippers can mean significant capital tied up in a small number of client relationships at any given time.
Growth outpacing reserves
Winning a new high-volume client is good for revenue — but it also means fronting more in carrier and customs costs before that relationship starts paying out.
The Direct Fund Program
Cash flow financing for customs brokers, built for the pace of freight
Approval is based on your business's revenue and cash flow — not collateral, not years of financial history.
Where the capital goes
What freight forwarders & customs brokers use this funding for
Carrier, duty & port payments
Covering carrier, duty, and port costs before a client invoice is paid.
Bridging the 30–60 day gap
Closing the gap between disbursement and client payment so cash on hand isn't the constraint on which shipments you take.
Preparing for peak season
Building a cash reserve ahead of peak season to handle volume surges without disruption.
Covering the off-season
Managing cash flow through the slow season that follows peak shipping periods.
Funding a new high-volume client
Onboarding a new high-volume client without straining existing operations.
Why speed matters more here
A shipment can't wait for a loan decision
A freight forwarder or customs broker can't put a shipment on hold while a lender deliberates — the carrier still needs to be paid, and the client still expects the shipment to move. Fast funding for freight forwarding companies means capital is available while the disbursement is still in front of you, not after.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Smart Business Funding provides merchant cash advances to eligible freight forwarders and customs brokers with at least $50,000 in average monthly revenue and one year in business, with approval based primarily on cash flow and revenue.
Funding is deposited quickly — often the same day or next business day after approval — so you have capital on hand to cover carrier, duty, and port costs without waiting on your client's 30–60 day payment terms to catch up.
Yes. Many freight and logistics businesses use working capital to build a reserve ahead of seasonal volume increases, then repay as revenue comes in during the busier months.
No specific collateral is required. Approval is based primarily on your business's revenue and cash flow rather than pledged assets.
Yes. Smart Business Funding accepts 1st through 5th+ funding positions, including side-by-side deals.
Funding ranges from $10,000 to $5,000,000, based on your business's monthly revenue and overall financial profile.
Ready to close your cash flow gap?
Don't let a carrier or customs payment wait on a bank's timeline.
$500M+ FUNDED · ALL 50 STATES · BBB A+ · 5-STAR TRUSTPILOT · INC. 5000 (2020)
